Simple resistance exercise helps patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Abstract
To date, only limited evidence has supported the notion that resistance exercise positively impacts non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We evaluated the effects of resistance exercise on the metabolic parameters of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in 53 patients who were assigned to either a group that performed push-ups and squats 3 times weekly for 12 weeks (exercise group; n=31) or a group that did not (control; n=22). Patients in the control group proceeded with regular physical activities under a restricted diet throughout the study. The effects of the exercise were compared between the 2 groups after 12 weeks. Fat-free mass and muscle mass significantly increased, whereas hepatic steatosis grade, mean insulin and ferritin levels, and the homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance index were significantly decreased in the exercise group. Compliance with the resistance exercise program did not significantly correlate with patient background characteristics such as age, sex, BMI and metabolic complications. These findings show that resistance exercise comprising squats and push-ups helps to improve the characteristics of metabolic syndrome in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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One study with 53 individuals who trained for 12 weeks with simple bodyweight resistance exercises such as push-ups and squats demonstrated improvements in muscle mass, ALT levels, and hepatic steatosis.
“While most studies used weight machines, one study with 53 individuals who trained for 12 weeks evaluated the effects of simple bodyweight resistance exercises such as push-ups and squats, demonstrating improvements in muscle mass, ALT levels, and hepatic steatosis (83).”
From Diet and physical exercise as key players to tackle MASLD through improvement of insulin resistance and metabolic flexibility (2024) · cites this paper as [83]
Three resistance exercise protocols demonstrated improvements in hepatic steatosis without significant weight loss.
“Three protocols demonstrated improvements in hepatic steatosis without significant weight loss (76, 80, 83).”
From Diet and physical exercise as key players to tackle MASLD through improvement of insulin resistance and metabolic flexibility (2024) · cites this paper as [83]
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“There is no consistent evidence, with an approximately equal number of studies demonstrating benefit [91, 94, 95, 97, 100, 102] or no benefit [92, 93, 98, 99, 101] of resistance training on hepatic steatosis.”
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“In these studies, two adopted a HIIT intervention [9,11]; 15 adopted aerobic exercise [10–12,15–26]; one adopted aerobic exercise combined with resistance exercise [27]; and three adopted resistance exercise [12,18,28].”
MethodPhysiopathology of Lifestyle Interventions in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
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“Resistance exercise also improved many factors in NAFLD patients after 12 weeks of squats and push-ups exercises [81].”
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Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
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“We recently reported that simple resistance exercises improve the characteristics of metabolic syndrome, including ALT, in patients with NAFLD.([7]) Exercise therapy is an established treatment in NAFLD regardless of exercise type, such as aerobic or resistance;”
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“, 2015 [51] RT CON Resistance exercise comprising push-ups and squats at the beginning of the study.”
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“Then, participants moved back to the upright position during the next 4 s (Figure 1d).(18)”
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“Simple resistance exercises, such as push-ups and squats using only bodyweight, are helpful in improving the biomarkers of metabolic syndrome in NAFLD [46].”
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ResultWhat Is the Effect of Physical Exercise on Nafld/Nash
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Aerobic vs. resistance exercise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review
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- Authors
- Takahashi, A., Abe, K., Usami, K., Imaizumi, H., Hayashi, M., Okai, K., Kanno, Y., Tanji, N., Watanabe, H., & Ohira, H.
- Affiliations
- Fukushima Medical University (JP)
- Internal Medicine, Usami Medical Clinic, Koriyama, Japan
- Gastroenterology, Watari Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
- Venue
- International Journal of Sports Medicine
- Publisher
- Georg Thieme Verlag KG
- Published
- 2015-06-19
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 848-852
- ISSN
- 0172-4622 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-3964
- OpenAlex
- W601006675
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 3.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- American Gastroenterological Association
- Fukushima University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Keywords
- resistance training, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, fat-free mass, muscle mass, ferritin, exercise adherence, push-ups, squatting
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Alanine Transaminase, Aspartate Aminotransferases, Exercise Therapy, Female, Ferritins, Homeostasis, Humans, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Cholesterol, LDL, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Compliance, Body Mass Index, Resistance Training, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
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